Nonesuch Garden

Where to Find Nonesuch Garden

2008-11-25T18:16:00.008-05:00

Thank you for your interest in Nonesuch Garden! This Blogger page is no longer updated. Please visit the Nonesuch Garden website for the latest news!

Business Card Idea

2008-11-19T18:17:00.004-05:00

The blue side will be glossy. What do you think?

Tancho the Red-Crowned Crane

2008-11-06T12:00:00.002-05:00

Red-crowned cranes symbolize longevity and immortality. According to legend, they can live to be 1,000 years old! Tancho is still quite young, but he has already mastered the art of the dance. With wings outstretched, he leaps and twirls with artful grace. Don’t ask him why he does it or what it means. It’s an ancient avian secret!

Etsy Listing

I'm Alive!!

2008-11-05T17:51:00.004-05:00

With Halloween, the Elections, and being sick, I haven't been able to get around to blogging lately. But I'm alive! And I've been busy!

I finished another one of my 10" dolls and I've completed the Japanese crane from my blog event! Yay! They are both super cute. I'll be taking photos and listing the crane soon. As for the new 10" doll, I've decided to wait until they are all finished and have an official photo shoot with all of them. I have two more to go!! So you'll see them all soon!

Next up I'll be making the other two dolls from the blog event. Then I'll be working more on my lower price point items. I'm trying to develop a doll that is in the spirit of the Nonesuch, but takes less time and less materials to make so I can offer it for a lower price than my other items. The design I'm working with now is really cute! But I still have a few more kinks to work out. I'm also bringing back an old project called "Mini Mystery Monsters." They are little tiny monster plush toys that I make with the scraps left over from my larger dolls. They are sold in tiny black envelopes so you don't know which little terror you're going to get! They are really cute and fun.

Did I mention that my woven labels finally came? They are gorgeous! I'm so happy with them! Everyone go to Custom Couture Label Co. for your woven label needs! Dianna is sooooo nice and works extra hard to make sure you're happy. :-)

I guess that's all for now. I'll be back soon with some photos of the various projects I've been working so hard on!

Nonesuch Sass (cat), Manny (bear), & Lolly (bunny)

2008-10-27T09:14:00.010-04:00

I wasn't going to show off these dolls until they were all finished, but I was approached by a book publisher and asked to submit some photos of my work. So I finished three of my dolls up as quickly as possible so I could meet the deadline! So here they are in all their amazing cuteness. :-D

P.S. I cut out their eyes and mouths with my new scissors with absolutely no problems! I'm back in business!

New Scissors!

2008-10-26T10:34:00.004-04:00

The numbness in my finger is almost gone, but I'm not taking any risks. I went to Jo-Ann's yesterday armed with coupons and a mission to find a pair of scissors that wouldn't hurt my hands. Well, the scissors were all ready 50% off! YAY! So I was able to use the coupons to get 50% off a 5lb box of poly-fill and 40% off a chalk pencil. In all, I spent only $17! It was great.

Anyhoo, the scissors!! I got these (only the handles on mine aren't bumpy):

It was the finger holds in my scissor handles that was causing my hand discomfort so I got ones without finger holds! They're wonderful. I'll probably be able to get back into my doll making a little sooner with them. :-D

I'll be stuffing dolls today and taking some photos. So I'll show you a little of what I've been up to soon!

And The Winners Are...

2008-10-24T16:50:00.006-04:00

Estela: Jackalope
auryndesign: Japanese Crane
mine, by magpie: Porcupine

Congrats!! You won free shipping on any doll in my shop! I will contact each of you individually to let you know.

I won't be able to make these dolls for awhile. As I explained in my previous post, I injured my hand and need to take a break from plush toys for awhile. Seriously bummed here!!! But I made these cute illustrations to tide you over. :-D

P.S. Don't ask me how I'm going to make the porcupine's quills. I don't know! I'll figure something out, though. I like a challenge!

Forced R&R

2008-10-23T19:46:00.004-04:00

Normally I would avoid posting about a bad day, but I need to get this off my chest!

Yesterday my finger went numb. I think it was from using uncomfortable scissors for nearly two hours straight yesterday morning. I thought it would just go away overnight, but it didn't. I've been working today and using the scissors, but more gently and for less time. Well, now my thumb is going numb. I think a trip to the doctor is imminent!

The other bad thing that happened today was that I ruined one of the new dolls I was working on. I was really close to being finished with all the sewing and I poked a hole right through his head when I was turning him. I tried to fix it, but I just made it worse. I'm going to have to order new felt so I can remake him. I'm really really bummed because I wanted to release new dolls soon and now I'm not going to be able to.

While I'm really upset over this, but it's kind of a good thing. I really shouldn't use scissors again until I know what's wrong with my hand. So having to wait for new felt is kind of a good thing. It will force me to take a break!

I think I'm going to focus on my illustration/cartooning work for the next week or two. (I'm left handed, but I sew and use scissors with my right hand. So the numbness won't effect my ability to draw.)

This is also going to set back the tiny dolls I was going to make based on the "Favorite Animal" contest. I'm SO sorry, guys! I'm still going to announce the winners tomorrow, but I won't actually be able to make the dolls I'm choosing from your lists until my hand is better.

Sigh. Thanks for listening! I promise my next post will be more cheerful. :-)

My New Banner

2008-10-21T11:20:00.004-04:00

I made a new banner for my shop! It features the six Nonesuch dolls I'm working on right now. From left to right: Lolly, Sass, Spot, Aerie, Piper, and Manny.

Sass is pretty much finished and Lolly is waiting for stuffing. I'll be making Piper next! I'll share some "in progress" photos as soon as I can.

Don't forget to tell me what your favorite animals are for a chance to win free shipping in my shop! I'll be announcing the winners on Friday.

What's Your Favorite Animal? EVENT!

2008-10-20T14:46:00.006-04:00

Hello dear blog readers! :-) I've decided to keep making the small Nonesuch for now. I'm going to make a few new ones in the coming weeks while I wait for the rest of the materials for the large dolls to show up.

I'm not sure what I want to make so I'm having a little blog event. Please comment and let me know what your favorite animals are. (Imaginary animals are okay, but please no characters from shows.) List as many as you like! Try to be creative and specific. For example, if you like dogs, which breed is your favorite? If I choose an animal from your list to make, you will get a coupon for FREE SHIPPING to anywhere in the world for any doll in my shop! YAY!!!

Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in your comment. Thanks!

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED! Thanks, guys! :-D

Busy Busy Busy!

2008-10-16T09:23:00.005-04:00

Oh my gosh. Wool felt is a dream to work with! (Though it is a little less forgiving than craft felt.) It really gives my dolls the sculptural look/feel I was aiming for. I love the way it smells, too. Am I weird? Heh. :-)

However, those plastic joints I got? They are not a dream. I nearly broke my hands trying to get them to snap together. It was only after a fellow Etsian told me to calm down and be patient with them that I got them to work. I'm going to try something a little different with my next doll which will make putting the joints in easier, but it will make stuffing the doll harder. We'll see how it goes.

I've been working on Sass the calico cat. (Scroll down a bit for a drawing of her and her buddies!) She's pretty darn cute so far! Unfortunately I sewed her ears on a little crooked and the perfectionist in me is reeling, but it's really not that bad. Next up is Lolly the lop bunny, but I need more polyester fiber fill and I'm not sure where to get it around here. I know WalMart has it, but one of my New Years resolutions this year was to not shop at WalMart. I've come this far, I'm not giving in now! This may mean a trip to JoAnn Fabrics (which is 20 mins away) or waiting until I have enough money to buy it in bulk on the internet (preferred, but doesn't satisfy my "instant gratification" complex).

I'm making each doll without a face at the moment. I want to wait until they are all finished before giving them faces. This is my favorite part so I'm saving it for the end. Also, it will be easier to keep their features consistent to each other if I make them all together. I'm also still waiting on the woven labels I ordered. I wanted to machine sew them on originally, but I didn't want to wait two more weeks before getting this project rolling. So they'll be hand sew on this batch.

I'm hoping to release these dolls in my Etsy shop on November 1st. I have a lot of work to do! I'll post some photos soon!

Should They Stay Or Should They Go?

2008-10-15T16:15:00.000-04:00

I have a really big decision to make.

Should I keep making my 4.5" Nonesuch dolls or discontinue them?

As I'm getting more and more momentum on my 10" Nonesuch dolls, finding an answer to this question is becoming more and more important. I much prefer to make the 10" dolls over the 4.5" ones. This was my dream for the Nonesuch from the very start!

When I started making felt toys back in 2006, I made them as companions for dolls. This is why I made them so small. However, as my customer base grew, I found out that more and more people were buying my toys for themselves and not for their dolls. I decided then in early 2008 to create a new plush line and pursue making felt dolls for people. That's when I created the Nonesuch. At the time, I didn't have the means to make them bigger so I stuck with the smaller "doll size" to utilize my materials to the greatest extent. Now that I have my sewing machine, I can realize my dream of making them "people sized."

I really want to take a new direction with Nonesuch Garden. I want my products to be super high end and professional. I feel my current 4.5" dolls are just not going to make the cut as they are. However, I'm afraid if I discontinue them, I'll be closing a door to potential buyers who prefer the smaller size.

Thoughts?

PayPal Debit Card

2008-10-14T17:33:00.005-04:00

I finally got my PayPal debit card! I want to hold it up over my head in triumph! In my imagination it is glowing and the ditty that plays when you open a chest in Zelda is playing in the background. :-D Heh!

I applied for one back in April, but was declined. I was so upset! I finally decided to try again and I was accepted this time. Only, the weird thing is that when I activated it, it said the card I ordered in April had been issued. WEIRD! So I called customer support and talked to a very friendly guy named Adam who sorting things out for me. Turns out that the card was still in limbo or something. So I had him cancel it so it doesn't come back to haunt me.

Anyhoo, why am I so excited? I can finally use my PayPal account to keep my business money separate from my personal money! When I go to the post office, I can pay with the money that I was paid for shipping directly from my PalPal account! This is awesome because before I would pay out of my pocket and reimburse myself with my PayPal funds later. This method was frustrating and hard sometimes when I was broke and wanted to ship my orders out asap.

Hurrah! Another page is turned!

In other news, the joints for my new 10" dolls came in today and I also got a notice that my woven labels have gone into production! I'm hoping to introduce my new line in early November. It's going to be an exciting day for sure!

Project Wonderful

2008-10-10T10:11:00.001-04:00

I'm giving Project Wonderful a go! I allowed myself $5 for today to play with. I'm trying to get adds on my favorite web comics! I have one on Octopus Pie right now. Woo! :-D And a pending bid for a space on You'll Have That. When I'm feeling more brave I may try American Elf and Anders Loves Maria.

I think web comics is the best place for me to advertise. I DO have mini comics in my shop and a lot of cartoonists are into handmade stuff. Also, web comics have a regular updating schedule which means if I nab a space on an update day, there's a good chance my ads with get seen.

I'll let you know how it goes!

In other news... I ordered my woven labels! Hooray! They will be here in a few weeks. I'm also waiting on the joints for my dolls. Once those two things show up, I'll be in business! I can't wait to start making these little guys!

Lots of Good News!

2008-10-07T20:24:00.000-04:00

I'm so incredibly happy right now!!

After thinking long and hard, I decided that I would like to order embroidered labels for my 10" Nonesuch dolls instead of printed. I'm going all out on the rest of the materials, I should get the professional labels to complete the image!

After deciding this I went on a quest to find the perfect font. I searched high and low on many MANY websites. I finally found the PERFECT font! I contacted Anke, the fabulous designer, and she gave me permission to use it. She is so incredibly nice!!! We worked something out that works for both of us. :-)

Let me show you the mock-up of the label design!

Ta-da! Isn't it just perfect? I can't wait to order them! I just need to save up some more bucks and decide on a background color. My color doesn't really match any pantone colors just right so I'll have to find one I like.

In other good news, I stopped by the shop where I bought my sewing machine today to pick up some bobbins. I brought my purple bunny and Baxter with me to show the owner since she was so smitten with the tiny Nonesuch I brought with me last time. She was so excited! We had talked previously about keeping a few examples of my work in her shop so I asked if I could leave the bunny with her to hold my business cards (which she has been passing out). She said yes! I know she will take good care of him and hopefully he'll compel people to take a card and check out my shop.

This works great for me because I didn't really want to leave any of my "for sale" Nonesuch there. The purple bunny was just going to sit on my sewing table forever since I didn't make him to sell him. He'll do a much better service for me by sitting on the counter in the sewing machine shop! Kathy, the owner, says she's going to name him for me since I couldn't think of one. I'm curious to see what she comes up with! I'm going to take a picture of him there next time I visit so I can post it here.

Check List

2008-10-06T18:19:00.002-04:00

I'm building up the supplies I need to make 10" versions of my six original Nonesuch characters.

Aren't they cute? :-D They were born from some doodles I made while talking to someone on the phone. (If you talk on the phone with me, you can be sure I'm probably doodling something!) I started drawing these cute, big-headed animals wearing aviator hats. They were a riot so I decided to make a new plush design based on the doodles. Hence, the Nonesuch were born!

I've made mini versions of a few of these characters when I first started making the Nonesuch.

Piper: This was my proto-type back when they were still aviators. He ended up being a gift to a friend.

Aerie: She has an improved hat design! She's my favorite and I will keep her always. :-)

Lolly: One of the first toys I made specifically for Etsy!

Sass: Also made for Etsy.

Then I turned gears and moved away from the original six. Now that I have the means to realize my dream of making larger Nonesuch, I decided to go back to my original idea as my first batch.

Anyhoo, back to the reason why I started this post in the first place; my supply check list for my 10" Nonesuch dolls!
- Sewing machine. CHECK!
- 100% wool felt. CHECK!
- Thread that matches the colors of my felt. CHECK!
- Joint systems for their limbs. CHECK!
- Polyester fiber fill. (Need to get lots!)
- More bobbins for my sewing machine. CHECK!
- Woven labels. CHECK!
- Hang tags. (Going to print these myself once I figure out what I want them to say.)
- Enthusiasm for the project. DOUBLE CHECK!!
(I'll be editing this list as I get things.)

These are going to be sweet, you guys. Just you wait and see!! :-D

P.S. Apparently GoDaddy called me today? WEIRD. I hope they weren't trying to sell me stuff. I got want I wanted! Please don't call my house. :-(

I finally did it!

2008-10-05T18:59:00.000-04:00

Oh my gosh!

http://www.nonesuchgarden.com
Click it!

Neat, huh? :-D This will make my life so much easier when I print promo materials. And it's just awesome.

I purchased the domain on GoDaddy.com and there's an easy (and free!) option to have your domain redirect to any website you want! Sweet!

Trade Secrets

2008-09-30T18:11:00.001-04:00

I recently had someone ask me about one of my specific techniques. (The one I'm the most secretive about!) This person also makes and sells felt toys so a little red flag instantly went up in my mind. Unsure how to handle the question, I politely explained that I couldn't elaborate. Today I got a miffed reply saying that they weren't looking for my "trade secrets" and rephrased their question. I felt bad so I gave them a nudge in the right direction without specifically telling them how I do it.

The internet is an extremely hard place to be sincere. Most interactions we have with people is text on a screen. It's impossible to gauge the intentions of the people you talk to. I've had my fair share of miscommunications and some scares regarding this. For instance, a few years back I had an interaction with someone online who lied about their identity and caused me a lot of grief. It turned out to be someone I know (and dislike) who was trying to trick me into doing something for them. Fortunately, I'm no chump. I figured out who it was and put an end to it.

When it comes to my work, I'm extremely guarded. It's very hard to be unique these days. Especially when there are so many people out there making products similar to mine. I've found that if I give people an inch, they take the whole yard which is why I never discuss my techniques with anyone anymore. I'm not trying to be unkind, I'm just trying to protect the techniques I've spent years perfecting. Besides, it's fun to be a little mysterious. ;-)

Tiger, Tiger

2008-09-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

This is Baxter! He is another 10" Nonesuch proto-type I made as practice. I'm still developing the techniques I'm going to use for the final dolls. He'll probably be gracing my Etsy shop as soon as I convince myself I can live without him. I'm quite fond of this little guy!

P.S. Little Baxter is for sale now. I hope he goes to a loving home!

Times Are A Changin'

2008-09-25T22:02:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the radio silence! Things have been crazy on my end lately. Lots of ups and downs and unexpected turns. Some of it has been good, a lot of it has been bad, but I'm still chugging along!

I have some BIG NEWS! I finally got my little paws on my new sewing machine! It's the very first machine in my life that I can call my own. No more asking permission to use, borrowing, or fighting with my Mom's machine. I am the proud momma of a Hasqvarna Viking Emerald 183 computerized sewing machine. It's been on layaway since May and I finally paid it off! (With a little help from my family. THANK YOU!) It is possibly the best thing that has happened to me all year. My inspiration has sky-rocketed and I have a renewed sense of confidence and enthusiasm for my small business.

Today I finished the proto-type for my 10" Nonesuch doll. (The crazy-eyed purple bunny in the photo! Medea is chillin' with him for scale purposes.) While there are still a few kinks to work out, it is my dream for my line of plush toys realized. I'm so excited to take my product to a new level! The final design is going to be made from 100% wool felt and have jointed limbs. While the blanket stitch look has been my signature since I started making felt toys in 2006, I've always had a vision of clean lines and a taller stature for my Nonesuch design. Now that I have my sewing machine, this is something I can finally achieve without breaking my hands.

Right now the struggle is saving up enough money for the supplies I need to make my new line of dolls. I'm going to start with the original six Nonesuch characters from the doodles that inspired my entire business. (I will tell that story another day!)

I also just gotta say THANKS for all the comments, you guys. It really means a lot to me!

Medea the Dragon

2008-08-01T10:10:00.000-04:00

Medea has tried everything to learn how to play a musical instrument. She set her recorder on fire, she swallowed the reed to her clarinet, her trumpet melted, and you don’t even want to know what happened to her poor violin. Until they invent an instrument that's impervious to fangs, claws, and flames, maybe it’s best for this music loving dragon to just sit and listen!

4 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #2: Mythical Creatures (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Equuleus the Pegasus

2008-07-10T16:04:00.000-04:00

Equuleus is the smallest pegasus that has ever lived. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in courage. This little guy is positively fearless and has a heart made of pure gold. He’ll fight to the very end for what’s right and good in the world and never abandon those whom he loves.

3 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #2: Mythical Creatures (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Phaedra the Phoenix

2008-07-03T23:24:00.000-04:00

Phaedra is very enthusiastic about everything she does. Her passion for life is overwhelming at times. She is always ready for a new adventure. Especially those that involve taking a chance. She’s never quite sure when it will be time her flames to go out and she’ll have to start over again, so she lives it up while she can!

2 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #2: Mythical Creatures (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Leander the Griffin

2008-06-27T15:38:00.001-04:00

Leander lives in a far away land on a cliff laced with beautiful white crystals. It’s a treasure that has been in his family since time began. He guards it jealously and proudly. However, he is the only griffin left in this land and he is growing lonely. He wishes to say good-bye to his crystal cliffs and find a new treasure to protect; the treasure of love and friendship.

1 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #2: Mythical Creatures (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Who are the Nonesuch?

2008-06-26T11:43:00.001-04:00

The Nonesuch are the native creatures to the Nonesuch Garden. They all share a basic body shape, but have adapted to represent many different animals and creatures. Each one is made out of craft felt, embroidery floss, polyester fiber-fill, and love! They are carefully hand-stitched from my own original patterns.

Next up: Mythical Creatures (Part 1)

Posie the Opossum

2008-06-25T16:27:00.000-04:00

Posie never has a hard time getting to sleep. Give her a sunbeam and a branch to stretch out on and she’ll be out like a light in moments. Waking her up is the hard part. Poke her, prod her, tickle her, nothing ever works. She’s won numerous “playing possum” contests without even realizing it.

6 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #1: North American Forest Animals (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Anise the Striped Skunk

2008-06-24T15:20:00.000-04:00

Anise is a phenomenal cook. People often forget she’s a skunk because the delicious aroma from her kitchen lingers on her fur. From savory suppers to delectable desserts, Anise knows all the tricks to making your mouth water. Her secret? Her extensive spice collection which includes common and exotic spices from all over the world.

5 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #1: North American Forest Animals (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Gabby the Grey Squirrel

2008-06-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

Gabby is all about gossip. She can sense juicy stories unfolding from a mile away. She’ll be on the scene in moments, asking questions, taking notes, and getting all the meaty details. Once she has the scoop, she’ll scurry home to put together her daily underground zine. New issues are distributed every morning so the other forest animals will always be in the know.

4 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #1: North American Forest Animals (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Bud the North American Robin

2008-06-23T15:29:00.000-04:00

Bud’s mind is as quick as a whip. Tell him anything once and he will commit it to memory. Forget the postal service, not only does Bud deliver messages faster than anyone else, he sings them! His voice is said to be so beautiful, that some have wept when they received messages as simple as, “Please pick up a gallon of milk.”

3 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #1: North American Forest Animals (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Rocky the Raccoon

2008-06-23T15:23:00.000-04:00

Rocky is in love with rock & roll. When he’s not playing in his rock band he’s air guitaring and thinking up new tunes in his head. Keep an eye on this mischievous musician. He’ll be up to his ears in your record collection and begging you to play his favorites before you can say, “turn table.”

2 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #1: North American Forest Animals (Part 1)

Etsy Listing

Sammy the Red Fox

2008-06-23T15:11:00.000-04:00

Have an impossible riddle to solve? Sammy’s the one to turn to. More often than not, he has the answer right away. On the rare occasions that he doesn’t have the answer, he will not rest until he finds it! Even if it means staying up all night doing research at the library.

1 of 6 in the Nonesuch Series #1: North American Forest Animals (Part 1)

Etsy Listing